What’s the Issue Here?
In February of 2011, the state of Iowa began the
process for amending its constitution in order to reinstate a ban on same sex
marriages in the state. Prior to the
final vote on this amendment, then 19-year old Zach Wahls, a University of Iowa
student, spoke against the resolution, explaining in his testimony how being
raised by two mothers had no effect on his upbringing. In a packed public hearing, and to a round of
applause and cheers, Mr. Wahls concluded his statements by emphatically saying,
“the sexual orientation of my parents has had ZERO effect on the content of my
character.”
It
was very evident from the young man’s delivery of his testimony, mentioning the
fact that he was ranked at the top of his class and that he ran his own small
business, that he was in every way an exceptional, reputable, and likeable
individual. His articulate statements
and, indeed, his very presence in the hearing was all presented as evidence
that an individual being raised by a homosexual couple is just as capable of
being a productive, influential, morally sound member of society as someone
raised by a man and woman. Certainly,
the evidence abounds: being raised by a homosexual couple doesn’t doom a person
for a social and moral downfall.
What
about an individual raised by parents who are drug addicts, or whose parents
are alcoholics or thieves? Are those
children doomed to moral depravity and social ineptitude? Of course not. Children are in no certain way condemned to
suffer the consequences of their parent’s sins (Ezekiel chapter 18 thoroughly
explains this). Not even a Christian
should make this a PRIMARY argument against same-sex marriage.
For the child of God,
the issue is not whether or not an individual raised by a homosexual couple can
still live a happy, productive life. We
know that, regardless of an individual’s upbringing and life circumstances,
anyone can make the choice to obey the Lord (Phil. 3:13,14). In fact, the very purpose and power of the
Gospel is to guide individuals out of sin and darkness into love and light
(Rom. 1:16, I Pet. 2:9,10). The Word of
God was given so that all of us who found ourselves enveloped by all forms of
sin could have a means of escape.
So, what is the issue
for the child of God? Even though
science may demonstrate that homosexuality is unnatural, and even if social
data proves the “lifestyle” is bad for our society, or even if secular history,
philosophy, or psychological studies reveal that gay marriage has a
degenerative effect on a population, we FIRSTLY disapprove of such things
because the Lord disapproves of them (Rom. 1:24-32, I Cor. 6:9,10). All sorts of worldly evidence will be given for
how children can be raised by same-sex parents, just as worldly evidence is
available for how occasionally drinking alcohol is beneficial to one’s health
and how a divorce can actually make a person happier and more confidence. But those of us who believe that Christ came
to demonstrate and teach how the people of God should think, speak, and behave
in the world, when faced with a decision about right or wrong, consult the Word
of God first for guidance and truth (Psa. 119).
Have you ever wondered
why God requires baptism in order for one to be added to the body of
Christ? Have you ever wondered if there
were some supernatural processes involved in the immersion of the believer in
water? Why did God choose particular
gemstones to adorn the breastplates of the priests in the Old Testament? Is there some kind of spiritual power
generated by those particular gemstones that science hasn’t discovered? The point is that man will never have a
complete understanding of why God gave this or that command or prohibition. We simply trust in Him, that the boundaries
and guidelines He has given us for life are just and right for all men.
“The law of
the Lord is perfect, converting the soul:
The
testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
The
statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart:
The
commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.”
- Psa.
19:7,8 -
What more do we need in
deciding right and wrong? There are
certainly situations in which we may supplement scripture with a secular argument,
but our decisions and judgments are ultimately founded in the eternal Truth of
God’s Word.
We are who we are
because we love the Lord and love to serve Him with all our hearts, souls,
bodies, and minds (Mar. 12:30). We are
His people not because of the things we do or don’t do, but because we love to
obey Him. The next time you are faced
with a decision about right or wrong, or the next time you find yourself in a
public arena in a position to defend Truth, remember who you are and why the
Lord is pleased to call you His child.
The issue is loving obedience.
“He that
hath my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me; and he that loves
me shall be loved of my Father.”
- John 14:21 -
Jeremy
Koontz
